Refrigerating apparatus



SePt 17,V 1946 c. H. NAUERT I REFRIGERATING APRATUS Filed March 2s, y1944 y v INVEN-ro -BYGz/z I ATToRNEY Patented Sept. 17, 1946 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Carl H. N auert, Evansville, Ind., assignor to Servel, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application March 23, 1944, Serial No. 527,685

10 Claims.

This invention relates to domestic `refrigera tors and more particularly to food supporting shelves for domestic refrigerators.

Food supporting shelves used in domestic refrigerators heretofore have generally been made entirely of metal, A metal shelf is objectionable in that it is expensive, heavy and difficult to clean.

The objects of this invention are to overcome the above objections by providing a refrigerator shelf that is relatively light, constructed of inexpensive materials, easily fabricated and easily cleaned.

These objects are carried out by providing a refrigerator shelf made up of a rectangular outer frame member constructed of light weight metal, the cross-section of which is C-shaped. The food supporting surface consists cf a plurality of thin light weight strips, such as strips of plastic, which span the space between the longitudinal sides of the rectangular frame. These strips are supported by and anchored to the rectangular frame member.

A specific embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a part of the food storage space of a refrigerator cabinet showing my improved food supporting shelf located therein;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a specific embodiment of my improved shelf;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view partly in section showing a corner of the shelf shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one side of the shelf as viewed in the direction of arrow 5 in Fig. 2 showing the elements in extended relationship and illustrating the manner in which they are assembled.

Referring to the drawing wherein like reference characters denote like parts, I designates generally my improved food supporting shelf adapted to be supported in any convenient manner in the food storage space of a refrigerator -cabinet as shown in Fig. l.

This shelf is made up of a rectangular frame 4member 2 constructed of a light weight metal channel member which is C-shaped in cross- .section as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. At the midportions of the longitudinal sides of the frame Amember a lower flange I 2 is cut away as shown at 3 in Fig. 5. The rectangular frame member is provided at each of its four corners with a wedge shaped end block 4 which isattached tothe bot- 55 tom portion of the channel by means of a screw 5 which passes through an elongated opening in the bottom of the channel and permits adjustment of the end blocks.

A plurality of relatively thin strips E made of plastic or other light weight material spans the space between the longitudinal sides of the rectangular frame member and act as food supporting surfaces. These strips are provided with notched end portions 'I at each end thereof which extend into the channel of the frame member as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Spacing blocks 8 made of plastic or other light weight material are located between the ends of the transversely extending strips 6. The spacing blocks 3 are provided with slots 9 and I l in their upper and lower faces respectively by which they are held in assembled position on upper and lower1 flanges Il and I2 of the channel member 2.

A locking block I3 made of plastic or other light weight material is located between two center strips 6a and 6b mid-way along each longitudinal side of the rectangular frame. The blocks I3 are provided with flanges I4 at the upper front portion thereof and with a cut-away portion I5 at the lower front portion. Each of the locking blocks I3 is provided with a threaded opening IB extending therethrough which is adapted to receive a screw I 'I which in turn passes through an opening I8 in the bottom portion of the rectangular frame member 2 as viewed in Fig. 5.

An inverted U-shaped reinforcing member I 9 made of relatively light weight metal extends through the length of the shelf at the mid-portion thereof. This member is provided with a slotted portion 2Q at each end to receive a screw ZI whereby the member is attached to the transverse ends of the rectangular frame 2. Reinforcing member I9 is also provided with a plurality of equally spaced slots 22 extending throughout its length. These slots are adapted to receive and support the transverse strips 6 at their mid-portions.

The shelf is assembled by first forming the channel frame member 2 as a closed rectangle with mid-longitudinal portions of the lower ange I2 cut away as shown at 3 of Fig. 5. Then the end blocks 4 are attached to the corners of the rectangular frame by screws 5 as shown in Fig. 4. Now, starting with the left han of the rectangular frame as viewed in Fig. 2, for example, one of the notched ends of a supporting strip 6 is inserted into the cut away portion of the channel member 2, 'then with the strip ex tending at an angle other than 90 to the face of the longitudinal side of the frame member, the opposite notched end of the transverse strip is inserted into the out away portion at the opposite side of the rectangular frame. Then this strip is moved toward the left of the frame with the notches fitting over upper and lower flanges Il and l2 of the channel until the strip contacts the end blocks 4 at each side of the left end of the frame. Now, a spacing lblock 8 is inserted into the cut away portion of the frame member at each side thereof and With the slots 9 and l0 of the block fitting over the flanges ll and l2 respectively of the channel member, the blocks are each moved along the channel meme ber until they contact the ends of the previously inserted strip 6. This procedure, rst a strip and then a spacing block 8 at each end of the strip, is continued until the left half of the shelf is completed. Then the right half of the shelf is assembled in a similar manner. ith all of the `transverse strips 6 and the spacing blocks 8 properly located a locking block i3 is inserted into-.each side of the channel member` at the cut away portion 3, Fig. 5, and with the ilange ifi of said locking block bearing against the upper portion of the channel member the screw ll' is inserted through the opening I3 in frame meniber 2 and into the threaded opening I6 of said block and said block is locked in place. Finally the reinforcing member lil-is attached to each end of the iframe member :by means of screws 2l with the mid-portions of the transverse strips 6 resting in the slotted portions 22 of said reinforcing member.

It will be seen that with this assembly, that is, with the transverse strips 5 held against transverse movement by means of the channel member, bythe spacing blocks S preventing longitudinal movement of the 'strips and by the notched reinforcing member supporting .the mid-portions of the strips, the shelf, although constructed of relatively light weight material, presents a rigid assembly.

My invention is not limited to the specific embodiment illustrated in the drawing and described in the foregoing specification but is limited only as indicated in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A food supporting shelf for use in domestic refrigerators comprising an outer rectangular frame constructed of a single channel member having integral anges on the inner side thereof,

a plurali-ty of spaced strips spanning the space Y between two sides of said frame and having end portions fitting into said channel frame member and bearing against said flanges, and individual spacing blocks carried by said flanges and located between the ends of each of said strips.

2. Afood supporting shelf for-use in domestic refrigerators comprising a rectangular outer frame constructed of an inwardly-facing channel member with inwardly extending flanges on one face thereof, a plurality of thin 'strips spanning the space between two sides of said kframe and having end portions kbearing against said flanges and extending intosaid channel member, individual spacing blocks mounted in said channel member and supported on the flanges and located between the ends of each pair of said strips, and a reinforcing member connected between two other sidesl of said frame.

3. A food supporting shelf comprising a krectangular frame constructed of a one-piece in- Wardly-facing channel member having flanges 4 at the inner side thereof, a plurality Vof thin strips spanning the space between two sides of said frame, said strips having end portions which bear against said flanges and extend into said channel member, and spacing blocks extending into said channel between the ends of each pair of said strips, said spacing blocks and channel having interengaging parts to retain the blocks in position on the channel.

4. A food supporting shelf comprising a rectangular frame constructed of an inwardly-facing channel member, a plurality of strips extending transversely of said frame, said strips having end portions which extend into said channel member which anchor said strips against transverse movement relative to said frame, and spacing blocks located in said channel between the ends of each pair of strips anchoring said strips against longitudinal movement relative to said frame, said spacing blocks and channel member having interlocking tongues and grooves to retain the blocks in position on the member.

5. A food supporting shelf comprising a channeled rectangular frame member, a plurality of strips spanning the space between two sides of said frame member and dividing the space between two other sides of said frame member, said strips having end portions extending into said channel and said strips and channel having interengaging parts so shaped as to lock said strips against movement transversely of said frame, and spacing blocks mounted in the channel and located between said strips for locking said strips against movement longitudinally of said frame, said spacing blocks and channel having interengaging parts to retain the blocks in the channel.

6. A shelf comprising an outer rectangular frame constructed of an inwardly-facing relatively light weight metal channel member having inwardly directed flanges, a plurality of nonmetallic strips spanning the space between two sides of said frame and dividing the space between two other sides of said frame, said strips being provided with notches in the end portions so shaped as to cooperate with the inwardly directed flanges of said frame to releasably hold said strips against transverse movement relative to said frame, and spacing members mounted in said frame and located between the end portions of said strips to space said strips along said frame and to releasably holdsaid strips against longitudinal movement relative to said frame, said spacing members having grooves thereincooperating with the inwardly directed flanges on the frame to retain the members in position on the frame.

7. A shelf comprising a pair of spaced laterally extending members substantially C-shaped in cross-section and-provided withinwardlyextending flanges on the inner adjacent sides thereof, means for holding said members in spaced relation, a plurality of elongate strips-provided with notched end portions which t'over said inwardly extending flanges, spacing Velements carried by said laterally extending membersand located between the ends of said strips, and securing means cooperating with said laterally extending members and'certain of said spacing elements for detachably securing said spacing elements land elongate strips to said laterally extendingmembers.

8. |A shelf comprising a frame havinglspaced sides with each-of said sides having a pair of spaced flanges, a plurality of elongate strips spanning the space between the sides ofthe frame with the end portions of the strips positioned between the anges, spacing blocks carried by the frame between the ends of the strips,` one of the anges on each side of the frame having an opening to permit the ends of the strips and spacing blocks to be inserted into the frame between the flanges, interlocking means on the strips, blocks and anges to retain the strips and blocks on the frame while permitting relative sliding movement to assemble the parts, and spacer blocks closing the openings in the flanges after the strips and blocks are assembled to lock the parts in the frame.

9. A food supporting shelf comprising a rectangular frame constructed of an inwardly facing channel member having inwardly directed flanges thereon, a plurality of spaced strips spanning the space between two sides of said frame and dividing the space between two other sides of said frame, said strips having notched end portions extending into the channel member and cooperating with the flanges on said member to lock said strips against movement in one direction relative to said frame, and spacing means mounted in the channel and located between each pair of said strips for locking said strips against movement in another direction relative to said frameT said spacing means having grooves interlocking with the flanges on the frame to retain the spacing means in position on the frame.

10. A shelf comprising supports constructed of inwardly facing channel members having anges on the inner side thereof, a plurality of elongate strips provided with notched end portions arranged to interlock with the flanges of said members, spacing elements mounted on said members and located between the ends of certain of said Strips to hold said strips in spaced-apart relation, and additional spacing elements mounted on said members and located between the end portions of certain other of said strips to detachably hold said strips and rst mentioned spacing elements on said members.

CARL H. NAUERT. 

